Best wild brinjal plant species for grafting

Which is the Best wild brinjal plant species for grafting?

Wild brinjals are the wild relatives of cultivated or the common eggplant. It is also known as jungli bhanta (जंगली भांटा) in Hindi. In this post we will know about the 7 important species of wild eggplant. It is very important to know that which species is best for grafting Solanaceae crops, such as eggplant, tomato, and chilli.

7 species of wild brinjal
List of contents
(01). The 7 species are as follows
(02). We judge it on the basis of following points
(03). Growth and yield performance

Purchase: Wild Brinjal Seed: Buy at Best Price

(01). Best wild brinjal plant species for grafting. The 7 species are as follows:

(1). Solanum viarum.
(2). Solanum macrocarpon.
(3). Solanum incanum.
(4). Solanum aethiopicum.
(5). Solanum indicum.
(6). Solanum sisymbrifolium.
(7). Solanum torvum.

Solanum viarum

Solanum viarum grows up to 3 to 6 feet from the ground level. Youger plants or seedlings are perfect for grafting. A fully developed plant shows spreading growth habbit. Its branches seem drooping due to large and heavy leaves. Flower colour is white. Fruit size is similar to Indian fig.

Solanum macrocarpon

Solanum macrocarpon is a 1 to 1.5 meter high medium size plant. It has vertical growth habbit. The main characteristics of fruit is its bracts. Leaf-like bracts cover fruit from all sides.

Solanum incanum

Solanum incanum exhibits spreading growth habbit. Plant has multiple branches. Fruits are smaller than Solanum melongena.

Solanum aethiopicum

Solanum aethiopicum is a small plant. The leaves of S. aethiopicum is similar to the leaves of Shimla mirch plant. Fruits are similar to tomato. After ripening, fruits resemble matured pumpkin fruits.

Solanum indicum

Solanum indium is 0.3 to 1.5 meter high vertical growth habbit plant. The plant is very similar to Solanum melongena.

Solanum sisymbrifolium

Solanum sisymbrifolium is a shrub plant. It is very wild in nature. Plant may grow up to 3 feet. S. sisymbrifolium plant are very similar to Solanum xanthocarpum.

All these species are used as rootstock for grafting of hybrid brinjal, tomato and chilli.

Before using these for grafting, it is very important to check whether the species of wild brinjal performs according to the prevailing weather conditions of your area.

Also read: Bhejari or Bhatkatiya Plant

(02). We judge it on the basis of following points:

  1. Germination percentage
  2. Grafting success rate
  3. Height and shape of plant
  4. Number of flowers per  plant
  5. Number of fruits per plant.

It is not necessary that the climate in which you do grafting for the first time using any particular species will favor the performance of that species according to or more than your assumption.

Because those big nurseries or companies have performance data of all the species according to that particular region, but they do not tell which species will be suitable according to your prevalling climate.

Along with this, it is also very important that the varieties of hybrid brinjal, tomato and pepper that you choose should show more compatibility with the wild brinjal plant which is used as rootstock. Because it increases the overall success rate.

The major factors affecting the graftage of wild and hybrid brinjal are cellular recognition, wound response, and Plant Growth Regulators. Poor vascular connection, poor connecting sieve tube, cambium and xylem are the major causes of complete grafting failure.

Species of wild brinjal in which these factors are predominant give more performance than expected with prevalling climate whether related to growth or overall production.

(03). Growth and yield performance

Solanum viarum

  • Germination percentage is 51-80.
  • The performance of solanum viarum depends on prevailing climate. Best method is cleft grafting.
  • Grafting success rate is 63-68%.
  • Minimum grafting success less than 50%.

Solanum macrocarpon

  • Germination percentage is  85-91.
  • Grafting success rate is 65-75%.
  • Minimum grafting success less than 60%.

Solanum incanum

  • Germination percentage is 69-79.
  • Grafting success rate is 60-70%.
  • Minimum grafting success less than 60%.

Solanum aethiopicum

  • Germination percentage is 41-46.
  • Minimum grafting success is 0%.

You may notice complete grafting failure during the final hardening period.

Solanum indicum

  • Germination percentage is 47-53.
  • Minimum grafting success is 0%.

You may notice complete grafting failure during the final hardening period.

Solanum sisymbrifolium

  • Germination percentage is 61-87.
  • Minimum grafting success is 0%.

Here, You may also notice complete grafting failure during the final hardening period.

Solanum torvum

  • Germination percentage is 80-85.
  • Minimum grafting success is 70%.

Contact for more information on wild brinjal.

References

Research gate. Subba et al (October 2021). Characterization of Solanum spp for Grafting and its Interpretation on Morphological, Production and Nutritional Quality of Fruit Under Polyhouse. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 10(10):77-89. DOI:10.20546/ijcmas.2021.1010.011.

Daily Telegraph (March 2016). Local Land Services battling Tropical Soda Apple. https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/lismore/local-land-services-battling-tropical-soda-apple/news-story/ee9dd618d9b2d57fce04766ef30db68d.

Central African Plants. A Photo Guide – Solanum incanum L. http://www.westafricanplants.senckenberg.de/images/pictures/solanum_incanum_1_ks_1458_a40258.jpg.

Wikipedia. Solanum aethiopicum. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_aethiopicum.

Vikas pedia. Crop production package prace. Medicinal and aromatic plants. vikaspedia.in/agriculture/crop-production/package-of-practices/medicinal-and-aromatic-plants/solanum-indicum.

Wikimedia. Solanum sisymbrifolium. https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/Solanum_sisymbriifolium#/media/File%3AWarsaw_Uniwersity_Botanical_Garden_solanum_sisymibriifolium.jpg.

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